West Midlands weather: Second severe warning as temperatures set to reach minus 6C

The yellow warning for ice, valid from 5pm on Friday until 10am on Saturday, is the same low level as the alert issued for ice and snow on Thursday.

Unlike that warning, the latest alert applies throughout the West Midlands, including Wolverhampton, Stafford and the whole of the Black Country

Residents are urged to prepare for icy patches on untreated roads and pavements and to keep checking the latest weather forecasts.

Clear skies will allow temperatures to plummet after dark, with thermometers across the region expected to fall well below freezing on Friday night.

Ice will be a common sight as a result, particularly in areas where the recent snow, sleet and rain has not cleared.

Saturday morning will see more bright skies and cold temperatures, with clouds not expected to return until later in the afternoon. Light snow may fall again on Sunday.

The cold bout of weather has been caused by an arctic maritime airmass across the UK and has led to widespread disruption across the Black Country and Staffordshire.

There were several crashes across the region on both Wednesday and Thursday, with many of Wolverhampton's roads gridlocked during the Thursday morning rush hour.

Wolverhampton council has been slammed for its poor gritting as a result, with many residents blaming disorder on the authority's poor planning.

The council defended its strategy saying that it "cannot physically grit any more" and that it would be continuing to grit over the weekend.

Dudley, Sandwell and Staffordshire councils also confirmed that they will be sending trucks out throughout the weekend.

Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are all encouraged to travel with caution and to prepare for disruptions and delays.